Hydrogen Transfer Reaction in Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Radicals

Density functional theory calculations have been successfully applied to investigate the formation of hydrocarbon radicals and hydrogen transfer pathways related to the chemical vapor infiltration process based on model molecules of phenanthrene, anthra­[2,1,9,8-<i>opqra</i>]­tetracene, dibenzo­[<i>a</i>,<i>ghi</i>]­perylene, benzo­[<i>uv</i>]­naphtho­[2,1,8,7-<i>defg</i>]­pentaphene, and dibenzo­[<i>bc</i>,<i>ef</i>]­ovalene. The hydrogen transfer reaction rate constants are calculated within the framework of the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory and the transition state theory by use of the density functional theory calculation results as input. From these calculations, it is concluded that the hydrogen transfer reaction between two bay sites can happen almost spontaneously with energy barrier as low as about 4.0 kcal mol^–1, and the hydrogen transfer reactions between two armchair sites possess lower energy barrier than those between two zigzag sites

Data_Sheet_2_Risk factors for the rupture of intracranial aneurysms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.DOCX

PurposeThe study aimed to identify potential risk factors for aneurysm rupture by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.Materials and methodsWe systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library electronic databases for eligible studies from their inception until June 2023.ResultsEighteen studies involving 17,069 patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) and 2,699 aneurysm ruptures were selected for the meta-analysis. Hyperlipidemia [odds ratio (OR): 0.47; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.39–0.56; p ConclusionThis study identified the predictors of aneurysm rupture in patients with UIAs, including hyperlipidemia, a family history of SAH, a large-size aneurysm, ACA, MCA, and VABA; patients at high risk for aneurysm rupture should be carefully monitored.Systematic Review RegistrationOur study was registered in the INPLASY platform (INPLASY202360062).</p

Data_Sheet_1_Risk factors for the rupture of intracranial aneurysms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.DOCX

PurposeThe study aimed to identify potential risk factors for aneurysm rupture by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.Materials and methodsWe systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library electronic databases for eligible studies from their inception until June 2023.ResultsEighteen studies involving 17,069 patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) and 2,699 aneurysm ruptures were selected for the meta-analysis. Hyperlipidemia [odds ratio (OR): 0.47; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.39–0.56; p ConclusionThis study identified the predictors of aneurysm rupture in patients with UIAs, including hyperlipidemia, a family history of SAH, a large-size aneurysm, ACA, MCA, and VABA; patients at high risk for aneurysm rupture should be carefully monitored.Systematic Review RegistrationOur study was registered in the INPLASY platform (INPLASY202360062).</p

Dissipation kinetics, residues and risk assessment of propiconazole and azoxystrobin in ginseng and soil

<p>The combinational fungicide suspension (11.7% propiconazole + 7% azoxystrobin), developed by Syngenta Co., Ltd., is very effective for the control of Alternaria black spot on ginseng. A simple and effective method was developed for determining propiconazole and azoxystrobin residues by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The recoveries of propiconazole ranged from 81.0% to 98.0% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 1.23–8.46%, while the recoveries of azoxystrobin ranged from 83.2% to 98.8% with RSDs of 3.29–9.50%. For the dissipation kinetics, the combinational fungicide was sprayed with dosage of 225 g a.i.ha⁻¹ (1.5 times of recommended dosage) in ginseng and soil at two different locations. The dissipation kinetics followed the first-order kinetics with half-lives of 6.66–13.33 days for propiconazole and 4.92–9.12 days for azoxystrobin. Based on the terminal residues data, the preharvest interval (PHI) could be 35 days at recommended dosage in ginseng. The dietary exposure risk was estimated by risk quotient (RQ). The result showed that the RQ value was obviously lower than RQ = 1, indicating that spraying propiconazole and azoxystrobin in ginseng at recommended dosage was safe for human beings.</p

Mechanistic Studies of Enhanced PCR Using PEGylated PEI-Entrapped Gold Nanoparticles

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is considered an excellent technique and is widely used in both molecular biology research and various clinical applications. However, the presence of byproducts and low output are limitations generally associated with this technique. Recently, the use of nanoparticles (NPs) has been shown to be very effective at enhancing PCR. Although mechanisms underlying this process have been suggested, most of them are mainly based on PCR results under certain situations without abundant systematic experimental strategy. In order to overcome these challenges, we synthesized a series of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified polyethylenimine (PEI)-entrapped gold nanoparticles (PEG–Au PENPs), each having different gold contents. The role of the synthesized NPs in improving the PCR technique was then systematically evaluated using the error-prone two-round PCR and GC-rich PCR (74% GC content). Our results suggest a possible mechanism of PCR enhancement. In the error-prone two-round PCR system, the improvement of the specificity and efficiency of the technique using the PEG–Au PENPs mainly depends on surface-charge-mediated electrostatic interactions. In the GC-rich PCR system, thermal conduction may be the dominant factor. These important findings offer a breakthrough in understanding the mechanisms involved in improving PCR amplification, as well as in the application of nanomaterials in different fields, particularly in biology and medicine

Family 4 with a novel deletion c.2236_37delGA (p.E746RfsX22) in ORF15 of RPGR gene.

<p><b>A:</b> The pedigree of Family 4. Filled symbols represent affected, unfilled unaffected, dotted carrier. Square signify male, circles females. Arrow marks the index patient. M refers to the mutant allele, and + means normal allele. <b>B</b>–<b>C:</b> Fundus photographs of the 42-year-old proband (V:1) showed bone spicules like pigmentation, attenuated blood vessels, waxy pallor of the disc and RPE degeneration. <b>D:</b> Representative sequence chromatograms for a normal individual (left), a female mutation carrier (middle) and a male patient (right).</p

Family 2 with nonsense mutation c.2260G>T (p.E754X) in RPGR gene.

<p><b>A:</b> The pedigree of Family 2. Filled symbols represent affected, unfilled unaffected, dotted carrier. Square signify male, circles females. Arrow marks the index patient. M refers to the mutant allele, and + means normal allele. <b>B</b>–<b>C:</b> Fundus photographs of the 37-year-old proband (II:11) manifested bone spicule like pigmentation in the middle and periphery retina, attenuated arterioles and RPE degeneration. <b>D:</b> Representative sequence chromatograms for a normal individual (left), a female mutation carrier (middle) and a male patient (right).</p

Novel Mutations of RPGR in Chinese Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients and the Genotype-Phenotype Correlation

<div><p>X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP) accounts for 10–20% of all RP cases, and represents the most severe subtype of this disease. Mutations in the Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase Regulator (RPGR) gene are the most common causes of XLRP, accounting for over 70–75% of all XLRP cases. In this work, we analyzed all the exons of RPGR gene with Sanger sequencing in seven Chinese XLRP families, two of these with a provisional diagnosis of adRP but without male-to-male transmission. Three novel deletions (c.2233_34delAG; c.2236_37delGA and c.2403_04delAG) and two known nonsense mutations (c.851C→G and c.2260G→T) were identified in five families. Two novel deletions (c.2233_34delAG and c.2236_37delGA) resulted in the same frame shift (p.E746RfsX22), created similar phenotype in Family 3 and 4. The novel deletion (c.2403_04delAG; p.E802GfsX31) resulted in both XLRP and x-linked cone-rod dystrophy within the male patients of family 5, which suggested the presence of either genetic or environmental modifiers, or both, play a substantial role in disease expression. Genotype-phenotype correlation analysis suggested that (1) both patients and female carriers with mutation in Exon 8 (Family 1) manifest more severe disease than did those with ORF15 mutations (Family 2&3&4); (2) mutation close to downstream of ORF15 (Family 5) demonstrate the early preferential loss of cone function with moderate loss of rod function.</p></div

Family 1 with nonsense mutation c.851C>G (p.S284X) in RPGR gene.

<p><b>A:</b> The pedigree of Family 1. Filled symbols represent affected, unfilled unaffected, dotted carrier. Square signify male, circles females. Arrow marks the index patient. M refers to the mutant allele, and + means normal allele. <b>B</b>–<b>C:</b> Fundus photographs of the 57-year-old proband (III:9) manifested typical retinitis pigmentosa changes. <b>D</b>–<b>E:</b> Fundus photographs of the carrier (IV:9) showed pigment deposits, pallor of the disc and RPE degeneration in right eye. <b>F:</b> Representative sequence chromatograms for a normal individual (left), a female mutation carrier (middle) and a male patient (right).</p

Family 5 with a novel deletion c.2403_04delAG (p.E802GfsX31) in ORF15 of RPGR gene.

<p><b>A:</b> The pedigree of Family 5. Filled symbols represent affected, unfilled unaffected, dotted carrier. Square signify male, circles females. Arrow marks the index patient. M refers to the mutant allele, and + means normal allele. <b>B</b>–<b>C:</b> Fundus photographs of the 40-year-old proband (IV:14) showed characteristic bone spicule pigment deposits, attenuation of retinal arterioles and RPE degeneration. <b>D</b>–<b>E:</b> Fundus photographs of the 12-year-old patient (V:5) demonstrated pigment deposits in the middle and periphery retina, with white dots scattered in the pigment deposits. <b>F:</b> Representative sequence chromatograms for a normal individual (left), a female mutation carrier (middle) and a male patient (right).</p